Seroprevalence of celiac disease antibodies in blood donors

Celiac disease (CD) is a chronic immune-mediated disorder of the digestive system triggered by gluten ingestion among genetically predisposed individuals. It is a chronic disease that causes malnutrition, but it is a non-fatal condition. A significant proportion of cases remain undiagnosed due to asymptomatic or nonspecific presentations, contributing to delayed diagnosis and long-term complications. CD is not a contraindication for blood donation. This study aims to determine the seroprevalence of CD antibodies and the prevalence of biopsy-proven CD among blood donors.

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 1,497 blood donors (≥18 years) at Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar, between 2018 and 2022. Serum anti-tissue transglutaminase IgA (anti-tTG IgA) and anti-endomysial IgA (anti-EM IgA) antibodies were measured in enrolled blood donors. Individuals with positive results for either antibody underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) with duodenal biopsies to confirm the diagnosis.

Serological testing revealed a seroprevalence of 0.8% (95% CI, 0.4%-1.4%) for anti-tTG IgA, with 83.3% of these individuals also being positive for anti-EM IgA. All seropositive individuals were male. Of 12 seropositive individuals, 4 (33%) consented to EGD and duodenal biopsy. Histological findings confirmed CD in two cases (50% of seropositive individuals who consented to biopsy). Both confirmed cases exhibited Marsh grade 2 changes.

The seroprevalence of CD antibodies among healthy blood donors was 0.8%, and biopsy-proven CD was 50% among seropositive individuals who consented to EGD. These findings highlight the presence of undiagnosed CD in this population, predominantly in males, and underscore the need for further community-based studies to assess the true prevalence and clinical implications of CD.